Project manager & renovation in Duingt.

Nestled between the lake and the mountains, between Saint-Jorioz and the end of the lake, Duingt (74410) is one of the most picturesque villages in Haute-Savoie. Its Duingt castle, set on a promontory at the tip of the peninsula, closes off the "petit lac" and creates one of the most photographed panoramas in the Alps. This exceptional setting — peninsula, reed beds, wooded slopes of the Taillefer — makes Duingt a protected landscape where building is anything but trivial.

The municipality is now a highly sought-after residential area, with a high proportion of second homes and character properties. Old village houses, chalets on the heights, contemporary waterfront villas: this heritage calls for careful renovations and modest extension projects that respect the scale of the village and the quality of the lakeside landscape.

Working in Duingt calls for a sound command of local planning rules. Our office is based in Aix-les-Bains, a short distance from the west shore of the lake: this proximity allows us quick site visits, a close reading of the municipal local plan (PLU) and direct dialogue with the planning authorities. We work with homeowners in Duingt as well as in Saint-Jorioz, Sevrier, Doussard, Lathuile and Entrevernes.

Renovating or building in Duingt means working with an exceptional but fragile landscape. The surroundings of the château and the peninsula are covered by landscape protections, monument protection zones and natural zones in the PLU. The success of a project is not decided on site alone: it is settled very early, at the design stage, in the choice of volumes, materials and colours that will allow the building to blend into the landscape rather than clash with it.

As project manager, we handle the entire project: survey of the existing building, sketch and preliminary design, submission of the prior declaration (déclaration préalable) or building permit, tendering and coordination of the trades, site supervision, budget and schedule management, and finally handover of the works. You keep sight of every decision while we carry the technical and administrative responsibility for the project, from start to finish.

Our added value on the west shore lies in our practical knowledge of the ground: sometimes narrow access in the village, slope constraints on the hillsides, high landscape requirements, sensitivity of neighbours and authorities. These are all factors we anticipate to avoid unpleasant surprises and deliver a project worthy of the site.

Like all the municipalities on the shores of Lake Annecy, Duingt is subject to the Loi Littoral (coastal and lakeshore protection law). In practice, it imposes a 100-metre no-build strip from the shoreline, a principle of building only in continuity with existing development (no scattered building in natural zones) and reinforced protection of remarkable areas and green breaks. These rules strongly restrict the scope for new builds and extensions.

On top of this come the provisions of the municipal PLU: zoning (urban U zones, natural N zones, landscape sectors), ridge heights, roof pitches, type and colour of façades, treatment of fences. In certain sectors, the opinion of the ABF heritage architect (Architecte des Bâtiments de France) may be required, which lengthens the review. For a project in a protected zone, a careful landscape integration study is often the key to swift approval.

Faced with this stack of regulations, our role is to check feasibility upfront — before you even commit any costs — and then to put together a solid planning application, compliant from the first submission to the town hall. We consistently favour modest extensions, renovation of existing buildings and understated architectural choices, which match both the spirit of the Loi Littoral and the identity of the village.

What sets Atelier NovAlp apart is that it brings together under one roof three professions that are usually separate: architectural design, project management and execution as a general contractor. For a project in Duingt, that means one contract, one point of contact and one responsibility, from the first sketch to the handing over of the keys — instead of juggling an architect, a project manager and several firms.

This turnkey approach offers decisive advantages for a second home or a property on the west shore: no loss of information between the parties, a controlled and committed budget, a schedule that is kept, and above all site management that spares you the back-and-forth. You follow progress remotely; we handle the day-to-day running of the site and any unforeseen issues.

Depending on the nature of your project, we adapt the contractual framework: architect's assignment, project management with separate trade contracts, or general contracting with a commitment to results. Discover all our services, or explore our approach in Annecy and the surrounding area.

Atelier NovAlp holds RGE CertiRénov certification no. CR-2026-73-0095 (comprehensive renovation offer, issued by Qualitel Certification / CERQUAL). This qualification gives you access to the main energy renovation grant schemes: MaPrimeRénov', Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) and the zero-interest eco-loan, subject to the eligibility of your home and your works.

On the west shore of the lake, many old houses and chalets are energy-hungry: external or internal insulation, replacement of windows and doors, installation of a heat pump, high-performance ventilation. Our RGE status and our role as project manager allow us to design a coherent package of works, maximise the grants available and guarantee a real energy gain — while respecting the aesthetic constraints specific to a protected site such as Duingt.